Asahi Group's History

Established - 1937
1949 -
1987 -
2009 - Now

Established - 1937

The Origin of Our Value

1889

Nov.

Advertisement concerning appointment of officers of Osaka Brewery

Founded Osaka Brewery, Ltd., the predecessor of Asahi Breweries, Ltd. (currently Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.)
Japan Brewery, Ltd. and Sapporo Brewery, Ltd. were also founded around the same time, marking the start of the period of development of the Japanese beer industry.

Komakichi Torii appointed as president

1891

Oct.

Advertisement depicting the completed Suita Village Brewery

Brick wall remaining in Suita Plant Guest House

Suita Village Brewery (currently Asahi Breweries, Ltd. Suita Plant) completed

1892

May

Advertisement concerning launch of Asahi Beer

Celebration photograph of the birth of Asahi Beer

Launched Asahi Beer

"Best Honors Award" received at the World's Columbian Exposition

Asahi Beer won the highest award at the World's Columbian Exposition

1897

Jul.

"Asahiken", the first permanent beer hall

Opened the first full-scale beer hall Asahiken

1900

Asahi Beer won the highest award at the World's Fair in Paris

Launched Japan’s first bottled unpasteurized beer as branded as Asahi Nama Beer

1906

Mar.

Label of Dai Nippon Brewery that inherited the trademarks of the three merged companies

Dai Nippon Brewery Co., Ltd. was established as a joint venture of Osaka Brewery, Ltd., Nippon Brewery, Ltd., and Sapporo Brewery, Ltd.

Kyohei Makoshi appointed as president

1937

Feb.

Ryutaro Takahashi appointed as president

1949 -

The second foundation period with innovations

1949

Jan.

Dai Nippon Brewery Co., Ltd. was split into Asahi Breweries, Ltd. and Nippon Brewery, Ltd. under the Excessive Economic Power Deconcentration Act.

Sep.

Established Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
Tamesaburo Yamamoto appointed as president

1958

Sep.

Poster for the release of "Asahi Gold" in a can

Launched Asahi Gold, the first canned beer in Japan

1965

Mar.

Outdoor fermentation liquor storage tank brought in (Azumabashi factory)

Installed outdoor fermentation liquor storage tank (Nishinomiya Plant)

Developped the world's first outdoor fermented liquor tank and installation at three plants: Nishinomiya, Azumabashi, and Hakata

1966

Feb.

Masayoshi Nakajima appointed as president

1971

Feb.

Yoshitaka Takahashi appointed as president

Jun.

Released the first aluminum canned beer in Japan

1972

Mar.

Established Mitsuya Vending Co., Ltd. (currently a part of Asahi Group Japan, Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd.)

1976

Feb.

Naomatsu Enmei appointed as president

1982

Mar.

Tsutomu Murai appointed as president

1984

Nov.

Established Asahi Foundation for Living Culture Research Promotion (currently Asahi Group Foundation)

1986

Jan.

Newspaper advertisement declaring that the company was with the introduction of CI

Introduced Corporate Identity, changed the corporate logo to Asahi

Feb.

Newspaper advertisement promoting "novel deliciousness"

Launched new Asahi Nama Beer, the first product designed iconic corporate logo Asahi

Mar.

Hirotaro Higuchi appointed as president

1987 -

Great leaps forward by the accumulated innovations

1987

Mar.

Newspaper advertisement concerning coming launch of "Super Dry" (1987)

Launched Asahi Super Dry, the world's first super dry taste beer.
Asahi Super Dry

1988

Apr.

Erected Senjin Monument in Suita to celebrate past company and industry members since the establishment of the company

Mar.

Established Asahi Breweries Arts Foundation (currently Asahi Group Arts Foundation)

Oct.

"Asahi Breweries Azumabashi Building" (left) and "Asahi Breweries Azumabashi Hall" (right)

"Asahi Beer Azumabashi Hall" 1st-3rd floor beer restaurant "la Flamme d'Or"

Completed new headquarters building in Azumabashi, Tokyo

1992

Mar.

Established Asahi Breweries Foods Co., Ltd. (currently a part of Asahi Group Japan, Asahi Group Foods Ltd.)

Sep.

Yuzo Seto appointed as president

1994

Jan.

Joint press conference concerning the establishment of Quanzhou Beer

Acquired stakes in Chinese beer companies and started full-scale entry into China

Mar.

Established Asahi Breweries Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (currently a part of Asahi Group Japan, Asahi Group Foods Ltd.)

1996

Apr.

Opened Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art

1997

Oct.

Established Research and Development Center as a base for research and development for the entire Group

1998

Apr.

Billboard "JAPAN'S No.1 BRAND" (in Los Angeles)

Established Asahi Breweries U.S.A. (currently a part of Asahi Europe & International)

Nov.

Waste "Separation Station" (Ibaraki Plant)

Non-fluorocarbon vending machine (Nagoya factory)

Achieved 100% recycling of waste at all plants in Japan

Dec.

Achieved the top share in the Japanese beer market (based on annual taxable quantity)

1999

Jan.

Shigeo Fukuchi appointed as president

2001

Apr.

Newspaper advertisement explaining the integration of sales department with Nikka Whisky

Turned Nikka Whisky Distillery Co., Ltd into a wholly owned subsidiary (capital participation from 1954)

Sep.

The Asahi Forest obtained International Forest Certification (FSC Certification)
The Asahi Forest

Dec.

Achieved the top share in the Japanese Beer/Happoshu market

2002

Jan.

Koichi Ikeda appointed as president

Jul.

Asahi Breweries Foods Co., Ltd. and Asahi Breweries Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. were integrated to establish Asahi Foods and Healthcare, Ltd. (currently a part of Asahi Group Japan, Asahi Group Foods Ltd.)

Sep.

Transferred the shochu and low-alcohol beverage businesses from Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. and Asahi Kasei Corporation

2003

Jan.

Asahi Food & Healthcare Ltd. and POLA INC. integrated (currently a part of Asahi Group Japan, Asahi Group Foods Ltd.)

2004

Nov.

Established Lotte Asahi Liquor Ltd. through investment in the liquor sales company of the Lotte Group in South Korea

2006

Mar.

Hitoshi Ogita appointed as president

May

Acquired shares of Wakodo Co., Ltd., the largest baby food company in Japan (currently a part of Asahi Group Japan, Asahi Group Foods)
Wakodo

2008

Jul.

Acquired shares of Amano Jitsugyo Co., Ltd.(currently a part of Asahi Group Japan, Asahi Group Foods)

2009 - Now

Laying the foundations for future global growth

2009

Apr.

Acquired all shares of Australian beverage company Schweppes Australia(currently a part of Asahi Holdings(Australia))
Entered the Oceania market in earnest

2010

Mar.

Naoki Izumiya appointed as president

2011

Jul.

Transited from Asahi Breweries, Ltd. to Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., a pure holding company
Established Asahi Breweries, Ltd. responsible for alcohol beverages business in Japan(currently a part of Asahi Group Japan)

Sep.

Acquired shares in New Zealand liquor giant Flavoured Beverages Group Holdings Limited (currently a part of Asahi Holdings(Australia))

Acquired shares in New Zealand beverage company Charlie's Group Limited (currently a part of Asahi Holdings(Australia))

Acquired mineral water and fruit juice beverage business from Australian beverage company P&N Beverages Australia (currently a part of Asahi Holdings(Australia))

Nov.

Acquired shares in Malaysian beverage company Permanis Sdn. Bhd. (currently a part of Asahi Holdings Southeast Asia)
Entered the Southeast Asia market in earnest

2012

Oct.

Acquired shares of Calpis Co., Ltd. (currently a part of Asahi Group Japan, Asahi Soft Drinks, etc.)
CALPIS

2014

Jun.

Acquired shares of the Malaysian food company Etika International Holdings Limited regarding the dairy products-related business in Southeast Asia(currently a part of Asahi Holdings Southeast Asia)

2015

Jul.

Formulated Corporate Governance Guidelines

2016

Mar.

Akiyoshi Koji appointed as president

Oct.

Acquired former SAB Miller's Italian, Dutch and UK businesses (currently a part of Asahi Europe & International)
Entered the Europe market in earnest

2017

Mar.

Acquired beer business of the former SAB Miller in five Central and Eastern European countries (currently a part of Asahi Europe & International)

Established Asahi Biocycle Co., Ltd.

2018

Apr.

Launched Asahi Carbon Zero, a medium- to long-term goal of reducing CO₂ emissions to zero by 2050

2019

Jan.

Implemented "Asahi Group Philosophy" as the core of all corporate activities

Announced Asahi Group Responsible Drinking Principles

Feb.

Formulated Asahi Group Environmental Vision 2050: "Connecting the blessings of nature to the next generation based on the concept of 'Neutral & Plus'"

Apr.

Established Asahi Quality & Innovations, Ltd.

Acquired premium beer and cider business of Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C., U.K. (currently a part of Asahi Europe & International)

May.

Endorsed the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

Announced Asahi Group Human Rights Principles

2020

Jun.

Acquired AB InBev's Australian business (Carlton & United Breweries business) (currently a part of Asahi Holdings(Australia))

Oct.

Issued the first Green Bonds in the food & beverages industry in Japan

2021

Mar.

Atsushi Katsuki appointed as President & CEO

Apr.

Announced Asahi Super Dry became the Official Beer for Rugby World Cup France 2023

Dec.

Announced Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement

2022

Jan.

Established Asahi Group Japan, Ltd. as a regional headquarters responsible for managing Japan Business and transitioned to a structure with four regional headquarters operating in each area under Asahi Group Holdings

Asahi YOU. US, Ltd. a company engaged in sustainability business in Japan, started operations

Feb.

Updated Medium- to Long-Term Management Policy

Aug.

Asahi Super Dry announced global partnership with City Football Group, making it Official Beer Partner of four clubs within the group

2023

Jan.

Launched and started managing a startup investment fund, Asahi Group Beverages & Innovation Fund, in San Francisco, the US

Feb.

Revised “Asahi Group Environmental Vision 2050” and adopted "Planet Positive" as Asahi Grouｐ’ｓ vision of what it would like the world to be like in 2050